Edinburgh International Improv Festival Debuts in February

The improv scene in Scotland has expanded exponentially, with Edinburgh being the center of the growth, producing some of Scotland's leading improvisers and troupes. While audiences have heaps of improv at their fingertips within the comedy crucible that is the August Edinburgh Fringe season, the organisers of the Edinburgh International Improv Festival saw an opportunity to bring a festival of its own dedicated to the art form. This brand new festival will host 75 performers, 26 performances and 10 workshops during its run at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Assembly Roxy from 7-10 February.

This festival will see some of the local greats of improv troupes, like the Spontaneous Players, known for their hit shows Spontaneous Potter and Spontaneous Sherlock , but will also feature some international names from Europe and the States, including Fringe favourite hip-hop musical improviser Abandoman headlining the festival.

Artistic Director, Jason Perez says, "The scene is still really young...I really wanted to set up a festival that would encourage improvisers from all over the world to come here and share what they know and what they do which will help educate the scene here, and at the same time allow us to show teams from around the world what we do."

In addition to performances, the festival offers workshops led by some of the improv scene's best contributors, teachers whose work has been featured on 30 Rock , The Daily Show with Jon Stewart , Broad City , Funny or Die , and other Fringe favourite Showstopper: The Improvised Musical .

In addition to the performances, a charity show will be put on in partnership with Children's 1st Charity and there will be 'open jams', family shows, and a full curriculum of improv classes.

More information on this four-day festival in celebration of all things improv can be found at: http://edimprovfest.com/